Ballad (Rockstar #5) (16 page)

“Pay attention,” he orders then slaps my ass, again, and again before running a soothing hand over what’s sure to be a cherry red handprint.

I let out a moan when he pulls my hair and spanks me again.

“That’s better. Feel it. Feel all of it. Shut your mind down and feel with me.”

“Cage,” I whisper. With each pump of his hips, he drives his cock in and out, bringing me, and him, the pleasure we can only find in one another. As he takes us both higher, I get wetter and as I do, he seems to get bigger in my pussy. Is that possible? All I know is he’s filling me, touching that spot inside me that only he can find.

“Yes, Fee,” he says harshly when I moan and start pushing back against him. The tingling begins to spread and my breath catches when he spanks my ass again, bringing me closer and closer to release.

“Come for me, Fee,” Cage tells me softly, the tone contradicting the desperation in his movements. “Only for me.”

“Only ever you,” I whisper.

He groans, then tugs my hair, pulling my torso upright, my back against his front. His hand slides down between my thighs, zeroing in on my clit.

“Oh yes,” I pant when his fingertip brushes against my swollen nub. With minimal effort, just a few circles, I come undone in his arms.

My breasts heavy with arousal, my belly tightening in anticipation, and then it hits me. Pleasure so raw and uncontrolled it steals my breath. Cage grunts and then he’s coming inside of me. He gently bites the side of my neck to stifle his shout but his grunts of pleasure are right against my ear, which takes me higher.

As we drift down, I try to catch my breath. Cage licks against my neck.

“You’re so incredible, Fee,” he whispers against my ear. Then he’s guiding me down so I lay on my back and we join together again. Slowly this time, as he rests on his elbows, his fingers entwined with mine, his gaze fixed on mine. I feel his love so deeply and every day I wonder how I ever got so lucky.

My heart swells as one side of his mouth tips up. I smile back softly. He’s touching me so deeply with his movements, his attention, his love, that it begins to overwhelm me. I can’t stop the tears from filling my eyes as he makes love to me. This is true love. The kind that lasts forever and I found it with this wonderful man who worships me.

“I love you, Cage,” I whisper as the first tear spills down my cheek.

“And I you.” He lifts a hand to wipe the tears spilling from my eyes. “Always and forever.”

“Only ever you,” I reply, and I surrender to the pleasure we bring each other.

I
’M FINALLY “JUICED
up” as I call it when I have to get an IV, and I walk onto the bus, Lucy mothering and worrying the whole way.

“Are you sure you shouldn’t have stayed there?” she asks.

I turn to her and hug her. “I’m sure. It’ll be all right.”

“How?” she asks as tears fill her eyes.

I shrug a shoulder. “I don’t know, but I’ve made it this long and it doesn’t feel like it’s time yet for me to go.”

She nods as Jesse pulls her into his side.

“Please don’t be upset, Lucy. You have to stay stress-free for the babies,” I plead.

“I don’t know how you can be so calm about this,” she says.

I want to say that I’m used to it, but that’d set her off for sure and I don’t want her in a full-blown cry this close to show time. So I don’t say anything, just take a seat.

“How you doing, Nicole?” Xander asks. “You need anything?”

I turn to him and look him over—really look him over. He’s a handsome devil with that dark hair and the smile that lights up the room. I don’t know his story but I’m betting it’s a doozy.

“I’m okay.” I rub against the bandage covering the IV site. “These bandages always make me itch but I have to leave them on for a while longer. I hate this.”

He nods. “Well, let me distract you with my superior knowledge.”

I let out a laugh. “Superior knowledge?” I ask and he nods. “About what?”

“I was reading Sera’s Cosmo earlier—”

Kennedy and Ethan both let out groans.

“This should be good,” Meggie says with a grin.

He gives Kennedy and Ethan glares of annoyance then turns back to me.

“As I was saying. I was reading Sera’s Cosmo earlier and there was an article on how to make your cum taste better for your partner during oral sex.”

“Shut up,” I say with a laugh.

His eyes go wide and he turns on the sofa. “I’m serious. It’s crazy. There are certain foods, if you eat them often enough, it makes your stuff sweeter.”

I laugh again. “Like what kinds of foods?”

“Pineapple, apples, grapes, watermelon, things like that.”

“So sweet fruits?”

He nods. “Yep.” He turns to look at Jesse and Lucy. “I bet you’re enjoying the benefits of those peaches, huh?”

Jesse grins and Lucy blushes.

“That’s what I thought. Interesting that a pregnancy craving can make your juices taste better,” Xan says aloud to no one in particular.

Jesse glares. “I’d prefer if you’d stop discussing my wife’s ‘juices’.”

Xan snickers. “Hell no. Lucy’s the perfect example. But seeing as you eat a lot of fruit and stuff, I bet yours is sweet too,” he says to me.

Ben walks over, having just stepped onto the bus and he gives Xan a look that could kill.

“Dude, you need to find out if that shit is true,” Xander tells Ben.

“Fucker, if I do, do you think I’d even tell you if it’s true or not?” Ben asks, taking a seat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, pulling me in to his side.

“What the fuck, man?” Xan shouts.

“You each owe the swear jar,” I cut in.

“What?” Xander asks.

“F word. Both of you. Pay up,” I tell him with a laugh.

“Well worth it,” Ben mutters, putting his money in the jar.

“You notice Jesse’s use of the F word has gotten less and less—unless he’s on stage,” Kennedy notes.

“I noticed,” Lucy preens. “I’m so proud of my baby.”

Jesse rolls his eyes. “When I get pissed, I use it. I can’t help it.”

“And when you’re banging Lucy,” Xander says.

Jesse glares. “Dude.”

Xan shrugs. “Whatever. It’s true. We all can hear you.”

Jesse tips his head back and looks up. “Christ.”

“Who gives a shit?” Trace asks.

“Says the man who makes Meggie scream,” Xander teases.

“Damn right,” Trace replies.

“Those screams are warranted,” Meggie announces. “I’m just saying.”

“Stop distracting me from educating young, Coley, here,” Xander scolds.

“By all means,” Meggie replies.

“Now, eating foods that are bitter, well, let’s not do that or Ben might not go down on you as much as you’d like.”

“Dude,” Ben growls.

“What, it’s true. Things like smoking and alcohol can affect how it tastes. They say to avoid broccoli and asparagus like the plague,” Xan informs us with a shudder.

“Gah,” I say.

“Right?” Xan agrees. He pushes on my arm lightly. “See, Coley gets it. What’s wrong with the rest of you fu—suckers?”

“Nice save,” I tell him.

“Thanks. This no F word is for the birds.”

“So what else?” I ask.

Kennedy groans. “Little sister, you’re encouraging him?”

“Sure am. It’s interesting. You have anything better planned?” I ask.

He looks thoughtful for a second or two. “No. Point taken.” He goes back to strumming his guitar.

“Well, it’s a good thing that Ben doesn’t smoke anymore, right?” Xan asks.

“Eww,” I say, turning to Ben. “You smoked?”

Ben sighs. “I did.”

“How much?”

“What?”

“Did you smoke a lot?” I ask.

“What do you consider a lot?”

“I don’t know. A pack or more a day?”

He looks at Xander with the death glare again and Xander shows Ben his pearly whites. “Yes. I smoked more than a pack a day.”

“Gross,” I tell him wrinkling my nose.

“Right?
And
smoking causes cancer. That’s insulting to Coley,” Xander throws in there.

I snicker. He’s such a troublemaker today.

Ben sighs.

“Well?” Xander prods.

“Well what?” Ben asks.

“Aren’t you going to apologize to Coley?”

“For what?” Ben questions.

“For smoking your cancer sticks. Nails in your coffin, man,” Xander taunts.

Ben sits up straighter. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

“Nope.”

“Swear jar,” I whisper to Ben. He pulls out a couple bills and tosses them on the table. Guess he’s paying in advance.

“I should have to apologize to Nicole for smoking cigarettes
before
I even met her?” Ben asks incredulously.

Xander nods. “Yep. You definitely should. Don’t you agree, Kennedy?”

“Yep,” Kennedy agrees.

“See?” Xan says. “What do you think, Ethan?”

“Hell yeah he should. He should apologize to me too for exposing me to all that second-hand smoke,” Ethan adds.

“Yeah,” Xan agrees. “He should apologize to all of us for that shit. What the fu—frick man?”

“Nice save again,” I praise and Ben gives me a look. I shrug.

“You guys can’t be serious,” Ben mutters.

“We are.”

“Hell yeah we are.”

“Damn straight.”

Random voices shout out and Ben growls. “Fine! Fine, all right? I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” Xander prods.

“Oh boy,” Lucy says and I snicker.

Ben grinds his teeth. I know this because I can hear it.

“I’m sorry for exposing you to second-hand smoke.”

Xander nods. “Nice.”

“You’re just full of it today, aren’t you?” I ask Xander.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But maybe we should talk about the fact that red meat makes semen saltier than average.”

“Shut the front door,” Meggie says.

Xan looks at Megs. “It’s true. I’m sure I taste like a damn salt factory… or the ocean because God knows I can come a lot—”

“No. That’s going too far,” Trace states.

“Yeah, I guess that was too much, huh?”

“Ya think?” Kennedy mocks.

“Hey!” Xan says to me. “Some funky shit is listed under the ‘makes cum taste good’ column and wheatgrass is one of them, so you should be good to go. Add in the fruit you put in there, you’re golden.” He pauses to look around me at Ben. “Ben, my man, you’re a lucky man.”

“For real, what the hell is wrong with you today?” Ben asks.

“Today?” Jace asks.

“True enough,” Ben replies. “He’s just…
more
today.”

Xander straightens and gives a cocky grin. “Dude, I’m always ‘more’.”

“For the love of all that’s holy,” Ethan mutters.

“And, Trace, you’re a lucky son of a bitch, too. Cinnamon is another of the ‘good’ things and Megs loves those cinnamon candies,” he says, making air quotes.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Trace replies. “I’ve become a big fan of cinnamon.”

“So what else is good and bad?” I ask. Ben sighs next to me and I grin.

“Bad is fast food. Grease and fat are no bueno. Drinking a lot of water is a plus. Apparently it washes out the toxins. Who the hell knew jizz was toxic?” he asks, genuinely perplexed and I laugh out loud. Oh, God, that’s hilarious. He’s taking this so serious that I can’t help myself. I keep laughing. I know they’re all looking at me, but watching him… I break off into giggles.

“I think I liked it better when she couldn’t stand him,” Kennedy says.

Xan flips him off. “I knew she’d come around. It was just a matter of time. No one can resist the Xan Man.”

“Oh my,” I begin, laughing so hard I snort. Xander grins huge at that. “Did you just call yourself ‘Xan Man’?” I ask between fits of giggles. Meggie and Lucy are giggling with me and even Jesse’s grinning.

“Damn right. I’m ‘Xan my man’, right Luce?” he asks.

“Yep. And I’m ‘Luce my goose’,” she answers.

“And I need to finish those nicknames,” Sera announces as she steps onto the bus.

Ben groans. “I can’t take anymore today.”

“What’s wrong, Benny?” Sera teases.

He just clamps his lips shut tight and says nothing.

“Ben can’t handle the truths and falses about sweet and bitter cum,” Xan states plainly and I snicker again.

“Dear God,” Cage mutters. “Why? Why do I walk in every time?”